SECTARIAN DISTURBANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 11

SECTARIAN DISTURBANCE.

AUCKLAND, June 18. Last night the window of 9. L. P. Rimi mer, a coffee merchant, was smashed, ft i 3 presumed by someone who objected to the offensive literature displayed in the window. Rimmer to-day put up a placard which read, " Thi« is the work of the Church of Rome," and the window was broken a second time. | Rimmer persisted in posting further objectionable placards. As an immense crowd congregated outside, the police arreeted Rimmer on a charge of conduct calculated to cause a breach of the peace. Seth L. G Rimmer was charged at thePolice Court under section 8, subsection 3, of the J.P Act, that he did exhibit an offensive wiiting. Mr Stewart appeared for accused. Sub-inspector Black referred to the facts of the ca-se, and atked for a remand until to-morrow, which was granted. Mr Stewart a«ked that bail be allowed. Sub- ' inspector Black asked that if bail be allowed, 1 accused be- deterred from showing matter calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr Stewart said that as the matter was sub judicp. Rimmer wou-d undertake not to do en. Inspector Black said the. other placards were torn out of tin* window by the croud and destroyed. Mr Rimmer: "I wish to say this, that the indictment is not coirec-t." His Worship 6aid steps wero taken in the interest of the defendant himself, on the ground that he might be injured by the crowd. He would allow bail to defendant. The sub-inspector said if defendant went back and repeated the offence there would be a disturbance. The police had askrd defendant to fake the placards out of hip window, and he refuged to do so-. His Worship granted bail in two sureties of £50. Bail was t'orthcoming. Mr E. C. V. Broughtpn, M.Ii.A. (Sydney), has issued a writ againet he Hon. J. Perry (Minister of Public Instruction) claiming £1000 dumegc-s for alleged rlander.